Nathan MacKinnon’s hot streak should carry the Avs to a win Saturday

Welcome back everyone, we finished off the pre-Olympic break picking five out of six winners (well we had the sixth one, but I said it would be a tie with a shootout win, and well it wasn't exactly that close). Hopefully the long layoff won't cool off the picks for this week. Nothing earth shattering with our picks for this week, except maybe that first game. Let's get ready for another great night of action, and celebrate an end to all those ridiculous outdoor games, where the finale was actually played indoors..

Blues @ Avalanche

By the Numbers – Frozen Pool

Ryan Miller loves playing with his new team, as his workload has been relatively light, not having to face more than 25 shots per game in his first three wins with the St. Louis Blues. The only team he hasn't defeated in his career are the Colorado Avalanche, whom the Blues have thoroughly dominated this season, outscoring them 11-4. Miller is 0-3-3 with a 3.59 goals against average in his career against the Avs, including being pulled after surrendering five goals against in two periods on February 1st with his former franchise. The Blues also traded away Chris Stewart before the deadline who always seemed to rise up against playing his former team, and light them up on the scoreboard. I'm sure Steve Ott will fill that agitating roll quite nicely.

After breaking Wayne Gretzky's record for longest point streak for an 18-year old Thursday night during Nicklas Lidstrom's special night, Nathan MacKinnon will look to keep things going against the Blues Saturday afternoon, which would tie him for the longest point streak this season (Patrick Kane and Ryan Getzlaf – 14 games). It almost seemed fitting that a defenceman wearing a #5 jersey ended the game in overtime on a nice saucer pass from behind the goal line by the near unanimous rookie of the year this season. A victory at home could pull the Avs to within one point of St. Louis for the division lead and one point ahead of the Hawks for second place and home ice during the first round of the playoffs. In last year's shortened season Avalanche defensemen contributed five goals all season long, this year the Avs' D is tied for fourth in the NHL with 35 goals. The Blues on the other hand also cycle the puck well and get production from the back end as they're tied for second in the NHL in points from the back end. With their win in Detroit the Avs become the first team in the NHL to have at least twenty wins at home and away.

My Pick: H (Avs win)

Senators @ Jets

By the Numbers – Frozen Pool

The Senators look to salvage a .500 record on their four-game Western Canada road trip after putting up a lowly three goals in back-to-back losses to the Flames and Oilers in Alberta. They've also been outscored 22 to 10 in losing four of their last five overall. Newest Senator Ales Hemsky is riding a nine game point streak against the Jets with 14 points during that span. Ottawa has won six of the last eight meetings between the clubs, with the latest victory coming in the New Year 4-3.

The Jets did very little to help them close the gap on the final wild card spot in the West during the trade deadline. The way that Tyler Seguin and his Stars rolled over the Canucks that three point gap might look much tougher to overcome than it is. After winning nine of their first 11 games after a coaching change the team has regressed back to the mean with a 2-2-2 stretch in their last six games. Their power play hasn't helped much with only one goal in their last 15 chances at home (five games).

My Pick: V (Sens win)

Hurricanes @ Devils

By the Numbers – Frozen Pool

Both teams are on the outside looking in at the playoff picture and it's surprising that the Hurricanes are still only six points out despite losing their first four games back from the Olympic Break. Luckily the team had a strong effort in San Jose to hand the Sharks only their eighth loss (regulation and overtime/shootout) at home. They have Anton Khudobin to thank as he's posted a 14-8-3 record with a 2.16 goals against average and .928 save percentage this season. Cam Ward by comparison is 6-9-5, with splits of 3.23, and .891, ouch. It doesn't help when Staal2 has combined for 27 goals and 75 points this season thru 62 games played.

The Devils are only two points out of a playoff spot despite losing 36 games this season (23 in regulation and 13 in overtime/shootout, thank you loser point). Cory Schneider and Jaromir Jagr have carried this team thus far and will look to continue to shoulder the load down the stretch. Not only does Jagr lead the team in goals (19), assists (34), and points (53), his +19 on the season is 15 points better than the next closest player (Andy Greene), and perhaps proof that while others imagined he would start to slow down the ageless wonder has actually been getting it done at both ends of the ice.

My Pick: H (Devils win)

Flyers @ Maple Leafs

By the Numbers – Frozen Pool

After coming off a home and home sweep of the Washington Capitals, that saw another line brawl (no goalie fights this time), the Philadelphia Flyers find themselves in the middle of the playoff picture in the Eastern Conference. Claude Giroux has led the charge with 17 points in his last 10 games and the Flyers are 17-2-1 when Giroux scores.

The Leafs snapped a three-game losing streak by spoiling Martin St. Louis' New York Ranger debut Wednesday, just a few hours after team GM Dave Nonis decided to stand pat with his current lineup in trying to secure a playoff spot. The Leafs power play has hit a rough patch, failing to score in the last seven games (3-2-2 record) after tallying 11 times during a 9-1-1 stretch prior. Not only has the power play not been contributing but it's actually been surrendering goals, after allowing Long Island's Michael Grabner two short-handed goals on the same power play last week, the team decided to allow the same thing to happen with the Rangers on Wednesday. At least it wasn't the same player scoring both goals, although Dominic Moore did tally a goal and an assist on the penalty kill. On a positive note, Phil Kessel is second in the NHL with 22 multi-point games, only three behind Sidney Crosby.

My Pick: V (Flyers win)

Wild @ Stars

By the Numbers – Frozen Pool

The Wild look to extend their winning streak to six games Saturday, as deadline acquisition Matt Moulson will make his Minnesota debut. Ilya Bryzgalov will also be making  his debut for the Wild, on the bench, as Darcy Kuemper looks to continue his hot play (1.17 goals against average during the streak). After winning the first two games against Dallas this season the Wild came up dry in January getting shutout 4-0 in a game they only mustered 18 shots on goal. With Mikael Granlund leading the Finns to a bronze medal in Sochi he has managed to continue his hot play from the tournament recording four points in three games since his return to North America, and now has 12 points in his last 10 games.

With his three goal and five point outburst against Eddie Lack and the Vancouver Canucks, Tyler Seguin leads the NHL with three hat-tricks this season. Every time he and line mate Jamie Benn hit the ice together the front office must be dancing for joy. The pair moved into third place with 38 of Dallas' goals where both players have received a point, trailing only Perry-Getzlaf (42), and Crosby-Kunitz (41). The team also avoided a scare after Brendan Dillon returned to the game after getting hit from behind into the boards by Zack Kassian.

My Pick: H (Stars win)

Canadiens @ Sharks

By the Numbers – Frozen Pool

Everyone and their cousin is anointing the Montreal Canadiens as the winners of trade deadline day for their last minute acquisition of forward Thomas Vanek from the New York Islanders. Hopefully Vanek starts finding the scoresheet to help Max Pacioretty with the heavy lifting that is the Montreal offensive attack. Pacioretty is tied for first in the NHL in multi-goal games this season (eight), with Alexander Ovechkin. Here's hoping the Habs don't have to rely on the trio of Peter Budaj, Dustin Tokarski, and Devan Dubnyk in keeping Montreal well positioned in the playoff race, and to secure home-ice for the first round for much longer.

Joe Pavelski is getting into that post-season mind frame already as he leads all scorers in the 2014 calendar year with 16 goals since January 1st. The Sharks buried four goals in the third period past the visiting Penguins on Thursday night to ensure Sidney Crosby left California with the worst game (a minus five rating) of his NHL career, which is highlighted by this .gif courtesy of Ann Frazier:

San Jose shutout Montreal earlier this season at the Bell Centre 2-0 and will look to sweep the season series.

My Pick: H+ (Sharks by two or more)

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